Search Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »
My library | Help | Advanced Book Search | Web History | Sign in

Books

The King's English

Front Cover
19 Reviews
Penguin Books Limited, Jun 2, 2011 - Literary Collections - 272 pages

The King's English is Kingsley Amis's authoritative and witty guide to the use and abuse of the English language. A scourge of illiteracy and a thorn in the side of pretension, Amis provides indispensable advice about the linguistic blunders and barbarities that lie in wait for us, from danglers, four-letter words to jargon and even Welsh rarebit. If you have ever wondered whether it's acceptable to start a sentence with 'and', to boldly split an infinitive, or to cross your sevens in the French style, Amis has the answer - or a trenchant opinion. By turns reflective, acerbic and provocative, The King's English is for anyone who cares about how the English language is used.

With a new introduction by Kingsley Amis's son, the novelist Martin Amis.

What people are saying - Write a review

User ratings

5 stars
3
4 stars
7
3 stars
5
2 stars
1
1 star
0

Review: The King's English: A Guide to Modern Usage

User Review  - Neil - Goodreads

Very entertaining. Although, the stuff about pronunciation is weird. Read full review

Review: The King's English: A Guide to Modern Usage

User Review  - Cheryl in CC NV - Goodreads

Not a useful handbook, per se, but Amis' pet peeves collected and arranged in 'alphabetical' order. I put the word alphabetical in scare-quotes because sometimes the choices are rather arbitrary ... Read full review

All 19 reviews »

Related books

Other editions - View all

About the author (2011)

Kingsley Amis' (1922-1995) works take a humorous yet highly critical look at British society, especially of the period following the end of World War II. Born in London, Amis explored his disillusionment with British society in novels such as THAT UNCERTAIN FEELING (1955). His other works include THE GREEN MAN (1970); STANLEY AND THE WOMEN (1984); and THE OLD DEVILS (1986) which won the Booker Prize. Amis also wrote poetry, criticism, and short stories.

Bibliographic information